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Can You Stand the Rain?

Page 18

by Mallory Monroe

“And why would I get upset?”

There was a hesitation on the other end of the call. Then Bobby spoke up. “It’s about Joy, sir.”

William’s heart squeezed when he said that name. Max and his men perked up too. But William took his phone off of Speaker and put it to his ear. “What about her?”

“According to Cory, she’s been arrested.”

“She’s what?” William frowned. “Why would the Chicago PD--”

“Not in Chicago, sir,” Bobby quickly interjected. “She’s been arrested in Bridell.”

“Bridell? What was she arrested for?”

When Max heard the a word, he quickly got up and went over to the boss.

“Why would they arrest her?” William asked, rephrasing his question.

“Apparently for breathing.”

William frowned. “What?”

“Cory couldn’t give me a definitive answer, sir. He said she did absolutely nothing criminal, or even objectionable, that would warrant an arrest.”

“Is she alright?”

“As far as he knows, yes. But they took her downtown.”

William leaned his head back, squeezed his eyes shut, and then pressed the control button.

“Yes sir?” It was his pilot.

“Divert the plane immediately. Get me to Indiana instead. To Bridell.”

“Yes sir,” his pilot responded, and William released the button.

“Do I need to contact the lawyers?” Bobby asked over the phone.

“No. I’ll handle it.”

“You, sir?”

“Yes me! That’s my wife!”

“Yes sir. I didn’t mean anything by it, sir.”

“And you’re certain he didn’t give a reason?”

“None, sir. From what Cory said, it was a BWB.”

William hated acronyms. “I have no idea what that means.”

Bobby didn’t hesitate to enlighten him. “Black While Breathing, sir. It’s sometimes as simple as that.”

William exhaled. “The price of racism.”

“Yes sir.”

“The price others have to pay for somebody else’s jealousy or ignorance.”